Agricultural Resources Initiative

Opponents of the largest housing proposal in Moorpark history complain that backers of the 3,221-home Hidden Creek Ranch have recently harassed those gathering signatures against the project. "This is dirty politics, and it doesn't belong in Moorpark," said Roseann Mikos, who co-wrote that city's version of the Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources initiative. She said the sign of one member of her group was torn up by a Hidden Creek supporter.

Santa Paula voters will decide today whether to expand the boundary of land that can be developed in the city's environs to include a 32.5-acre parcel on the west side of town. The Ventura County registrar of voters estimates a turnout of 16% to 18% on Measure A, the latest growth-related issue to hit the ballot in a county with some of the most restrictive development laws in the nation.

August 2, 1998 | NEIL A. MOYER, Neil A. Moyer of Ventura is president of the Environmental Coalition

Last year, various prognosticators forecasted dire threats and destruction from El Nino-driven weather. Instead, Ventura County's waterways, wetlands, shoreline and other water resources have been under unremitting and relentless assault from unconscionable events perpetrated by local public agencies.

For years, debate has raged over what to do with 87 acres of lemon groves the city owns in east Ventura, off Telegraph Road and Petit Avenue. Many in the community say debate over the fate of the aging groves triggered the save-the-greenbelt movement in Ventura and became the catalyst that led to the passage of the Save Our Agricultural Resources initiative in November 1995. On Monday night, the City Council will continue the discussion of what to do with the 87 acres.

The Ojai City Council is pressing forward with plans for a greenbelt ordinance that would further protect farmland and open space surrounding the Ojai Valley. Council members voted unanimously this week to schedule public meetings on the proposed greenbelt. But they stopped short of asking the city attorney to draft an ordinance, saying they wanted to hear from property owners and farmers first. "My biggest concern is not wanting to rush this," said Councilwoman Sue Horgan.

Wading into Moorpark's contentious battle over open-space initiatives, a judge threw out a city lawsuit Friday that accused slow-growth advocates of using "false or misleading" language in a fall ballot argument. The suit accused backers of the slow-growth Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources initiative of incorrectly referring to council members who backed a city-sponsored alternative measure as "pro-growth."

A special election will be held in January on whether the 3,221-home Hidden Creek Ranch development should go forward, city officials said Thursday. Meanwhile, an environmental group has filed suit over the project, contending that an environmental review was inadequate. Supporters of the referendum--many of whom are involved in the city's SOAR initiative--submitted petitions with 2,441 signatures Sept. 16.